Systems And Methods For Securing Cords

ABSTRACT

An assembly for securing a cord in a selected compact configuration. The assembly can include a first attachment apparatus configured to connect to the cord. An elongate body can extend from the first attachment apparatus. The elongate body can be configured to be positioned to extend at least partially around the cord to at least partially secure the cord in the selected compact configuration. A second attachment apparatus can be positioned along at least a portion of the elongate body. The second attachment apparatus can be configured to connect to the first attachment apparatus to at least partially secure the elongate body at least partially about the cord in the selected compact configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is continuation application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/190,854, filed on Mar. 3, 2021, which claims the benefit ofeach of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/984,358, filed onMar. 3, 2020, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/726,402, filedon Mar. 3, 2020, U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/726,408,filed on Mar. 3, 2020, and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No.29/739,919, filed on Jun. 30, 2020.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosures of each of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/190,854,filed on Mar. 3, 2021, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/984,358, filed on Mar. 3, 2020, U.S. Design patent application Ser.No. 29/726,402, filed on Mar. 3, 2020, U.S. Design patent applicationSer. No. 29/726,408, filed on Mar. 3, 2020, and U.S. Design patentapplication Ser. No. 29/739,919, filed on Jun. 30, 2020, are herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to cord wraps, ties, etc. and inparticular, to flexible, elastic cord wrapping or tying assemblies,systems, and methods for securing cords in compact configurations. Otheraspects also are described.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, the present disclosure is directed to systems,assemblies, and methods for securing cords, such as head phone cords,charging cords for personal electronic devices (e.g., phones, tablets,laptops, etc.), extension cords, computer cords, or other suitableelectric or non-electric cords, wires, cables, etc., in compactconfigurations. In one aspect, an assembly includes an elastic portionadapted to wrap around or otherwise be disposed/positioned about one ormore cords. The elastic portion can be formed of a substantiallyflexible material that further can have a selected elasticity such thatit can be stretched to extend/wrap around one or more cords, e.g., whenthe cord(s) is in a wrapped, folded or coiled configuration, and cancontract or compress the one or more cords into a compact configuration.The assembly further includes attachment portions attached to theelastic portion at or substantially adjacent first and second endportions thereof. For example, the attachment portions generally includea first and a second attachment portion at or substantially adjacentrespective first and second end portions of the elastic portion. Thefirst and/or second attachment portions can be configured to beconnectable to the cord for attaching or fixing the assembly thereto,and the first and second attachment portions further are connectabletogether to substantially secure the elastic portion around/about thecord in various compact configurations.

In general, one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to anassembly for securing a cord in a selected compact configuration. Theassembly can comprise a first attachment apparatus configured to connectto the cord. An elongate body can extend from the first attachmentapparatus. The elongate body can be configured to be positioned toextend at least partially around the cord to at least partially securethe cord in the selected compact configuration. A second attachmentapparatus can be positioned along at least a portion of the elongatebody. The second attachment apparatus can be configured to connect tothe first attachment apparatus to at least partially secure the elongatebody at least partially about the cord in the selected compactconfiguration.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a methodcomprising obtaining an assembly comprising a first attachmentapparatus, an elastic portion extending from the first attachmentapparatus, and a second attachment apparatus extending along at least aportion of the elastic portion. The method further can compriseconnecting the first attachment apparatus to a portion of a cord,forming at least portion of the cord into a bundle, wrapping at least aportion of the elastic portion at least partially around the bundle, andconnecting at least a portion of the second attachment apparatus to thefirst attachment apparatus to at least partially secure the bundle tothe assembly.

Various objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of thefollowing detail description, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the detaileddescription, serve to explain the principles of the embodimentsdiscussed herein. No attempt is made to show structural details of thisdisclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamentalunderstanding of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein and thevarious ways in which they may be practiced.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that, accordingto common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed beloware not necessarily drawn to scale, and that the dimensions of variousfeatures and elements of the drawings may be expanded or reduced to moreclearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure asdescribed herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly for securing one or morecords in compact configurations according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the assemblyof FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG.1 .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in engagementwith a cord in a compact configuration according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembly for securing one or morecords in compact configurations according to an alternative exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly for securing one or morecords in compact configurations according to another alternativeexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the assemblyof FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 8 in engagementwith a cord in a compact configuration according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-10 show systems or assemblies 100, 100′, and 200 for securingone or more cords C or other elongated, flexible articles in variouscompact configurations. The cords C can include head phone cords,charging cords for personal electronic devices, such as phones, tablets,laptops, etc. (e.g., Lighting Cables, USB cords, etc.), extension cords,computer cords, computer accessory cords (e.g., for printers, keyboards,scanners etc.), television cords (e.g., HMDI cords, coaxial cables,etc.) or other suitable electric or non-electric cords, wires, cables,etc.

As FIGS. 1-10 indicate, these assemblies 100, 100′, 200 generallyinclude a tail or elastic portion 10 (broadly: an elongate body 10)configured to be wrapped around or positioned about a cord C, e.g., forsecuring the cord C (or cords C) in various compact configurations. Theelastic portion 10 generally includes a substantially flexible materialthat has a selected elasticity such that the elastic portion 10 can bestretched or otherwise positioned around the cord C (or cords) to engageor press the cord C in various selected compact configurations. Thevarious compact configurations can include different amounts, portions,etc. of the cord C (or cords) folded, coiled, wrapped, etc. The elasticportion 10 can be formed from elastic, flexible and/or stretchablematerials, such as elastomers, natural rubbers, polyurethane,polybutadiene, neoprene, silicone, etc., though other suitable plastic,composite, synthetic, etc. materials can be used without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure. The elastic portion 10 further hasa first end portion 10A and a second end portion 10B.

The assemblies 100, 100′, 200 further include attachment or connectionapparatuses 12, 14 attached to the elastic portion 10 at, along, orsubstantially adjacent to the first and second end portions 10A, 10B asgenerally indicated in FIGS. 1-10 . The attachment apparatuses 12, 14can include a first attachment apparatus 12 and a second attachmentapparatus 14. In some embodiments, portions of the first attachmentapparatus 12 and/or the second attachment apparatus 14 can be formedfrom a rigid material, such as hard rubber, hard plastic, metals, wood,etc., or other suitable rigid plastic, composite, synthetic, etc.materials. The first and/or second attachment apparatuses 12,14 can beconfigured to be connectable to the cord C for attaching or fixing theassembly 100, 100′, 200 to the cord C. The material forming the elasticportion 10 can be a first material and the material forming theattachment apparatus 12 or 14 can be a second material. The firstattachment apparatus 12 and the second attachment apparatus 14 furtherare connectable together to secure the elastic portion 10 about the cordC when the elastic portion 10 is wrapped or stretched around the cord C.

In use, when it is desired to place the cord C in a compactconfiguration, the cord C can be at least partially or substantiallyentirely wrapped, coiled or folded up into the desired compactconfiguration (e.g., a bundle B) and the elastic portion 10 can bestretched and positioned around the bundle B to hold or secure the cordC in its selected compact configuration. With the elastic portion 10stretched about the cord C, the first attachment apparatus 12 and thesecond attachment apparatus 14 can be connected together to secure theelastic portion 10 thereabout (e.g., FIGS. 6 and 10 ). The elasticportion 10 further can be under tension and compress or engage the cordC in its wrapped configuration. The tension provided along the elasticportion 10 also can press or engage the first attachment apparatus 12and the second attachment apparatus 14 against one another.

FIGS. 1-6 show an assembly 100 for securing one or more cords C inselected compact configurations according to an exemplary embodiment. Asshown in FIGS. 1-6 , the first attachment apparatus 12 includes anenlarged portion or connector 102 extending from the first end portion10A of the elastic portion 10. The connector 102 includes a connectorbody 104 at least partially extending around and defining a passage orchannel 106 and a slot 108 that are configured to receive a portion ofthe cord C. This passage 106 is generally sized, dimensioned, and/orotherwise configured such that a portion of the cord C can be insertedtherethrough to facilitate attachment/connection of the assembly 100 tothe cord C, as generally indicated in FIG. 6 . In the illustratedembodiment, the slot 108 can be in communication with the passage 106and can be defined between a first wall 110 and a second wall 112extending along respective portions of the connector body 104 (FIGS. 1,3, and 4 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly 100 can beattached to the cord C by moving (e.g., pressing) the portion of thecord C through the slot 108 to the passage 106 so that the portion ofthe cord C is engaged by the passage 106 (FIG. 6 ) (e.g., the cord C canbe engaged to tightly enclose or secure the portion of the cord C) suchthat the assembly 100 is retained with the cord C, e.g., during the usethereof, i.e., charging, listening to music, etc.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 , the second attachment apparatus14 can include a plurality of bulbous portions 114 positioned in aspaced relation along a portion of the elastic portion 10 extending fromthe second end 10B. Each of the bulbous portions 114 can have agenerally spherical shape or any suitable shape (e.g., disk-like shapes,semi-spherical shapes, oblong shapes, etc.). Further, as shown in FIGS.1-6 , the connector 102 can include a recessed portion 120 defined inthe connector body 104 and shaped, sized, or otherwise configured to atleast partially receive a selected one of the bulbous portions 114. Forexample, one of the bulbous portions 114 can be engaged against asurface or face of or defined along the recessed portion 120 to securethe elastic portion 10 about one or more cords C (FIG. 6 ).

In the illustrated embodiment, the connector body 104 further includesprongs 122 substantially adjacent or otherwise along the recessedportion 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the prongs 122 can form part ofthe recessed portion 120. The prongs 122 thus can define a pair ofspaced apart surfaces that can be engaged by the bulbous portion 114. Asshown in FIGS. 1-6 , the surfaces of the recessed portion 120 and theprongs 122 can have a generally curved or arcuate shape, though othershapes are possible. The prongs 122 further define a slot or gap 124configured to at least partially engage or contact a portion of theelastic portion 10 to help secure and retain the bulbous portion 114within or along the recessed portion 120. For example, the prongs 122can frictionally engage or contact opposing sides of at least a portionof the elastic portion 10 to secure the bulbous portion 114 within oralong the recessed portion 120. In the illustrated embodiment, thebulbous portions 114 can be selectively engaged with the recessedportion 120 to allow for selective tightening of the elastic portion 10about one or more cords C, e.g., to accommodate cords of different sizesand/or various selected/desired folded, coiled, wrapped configurations.In embodiments, the recessed portion can have a different configuration,for example, including one or more notches formed on the connector body.The elastic portion 10, the first attachment apparatus 12 (including theconnector 102, the connector body 104, the passage 106, the slot 108,the walls 110, 112, the recessed portion 120, the prongs 122, and/or thegap 124), and/or the second attachment apparatus (including any or allof the bulbous portions 114) could be otherwise shaped, sized,positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure

In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic portion 10 and the bulbousportions 114 can be formed from a first material that is flexible and/orstretchable, such as elastomers, rubber, polyurethane, polybutadiene,neoprene, silicone, etc., though other suitable plastic, composite,synthetic, etc. materials can be used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the bulbous portions 114can be formed with the remainder of the elastic portion (e.g., can beintegral with and/or continuous with the elastic portion 10). In otherembodiments, the bulbous portions 114 can be separately formed of thesame material or a different material and can be mounted to (e.g.,adhered to, welded to, fused to, etc.) the remainder of the elasticportion 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the connector 102 can have afirst portion 130 and a second portion 132 that cooperate to at leastpartially form the connector body 104. The first portion 130 can be anextension of the elastic portion 10 (e.g., can be integrally formed withthe elastic portion 10). The second portion 132 can be formed from asecond material that is more rigid than the first material. For example,the second material can include hard rubber, hard plastic, metallicmaterials, wood, etc., or other suitable hard plastic, composite,synthetic, etc. materials or combinations thereof. In some embodiments,the second portion 132 can be over-molded with a softer and/or moreresilient material, such as elastomers, rubber, polyurethane,polybutadiene, neoprene, silicone, etc. and/or other suitable plastic,composite, synthetic, etc. materials. As shown in FIG. 5 , the secondportion 132 includes the recessed portion 120 and the prongs 122, andthe relative rigidity of the second portion 132 allows a selected one ofthe bulbous portions 114 to be secured within or along the recessedportion 120 (e.g., under urging or tension of the elastic portion 10)and allows the elastic portion 10 to be inserted and secured in the gap124. As shown in FIG. 4 , a portion of the second portion 132 can bereceived in an opening in the first portion 130 to form the connectorbody 104. In one embodiment, the first portion 130 and the secondportion 132 can be adhered or otherwise secured together.

In use, the assembly 100 can be connected to a portion of the cord C(e.g., an end portion) by positioning the portion of the cord C betweenthe first end 10A of the elastic portion 10 and a convex curved portionof the connector body 104 and pressing the portion of the cord C throughthe slot 108 to the passage 106. In one embodiment, the walls 110, 112of the connector body 104 can be curved to help guide the cord portioninto the slot 108. In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of theconnector body 104 can compress and/or deform as the cord C movesthrough the slot 108 (e.g., the elastic material can compress and/ordeform and/or the second portion 132 can bend) and can return or reboundto its original configuration once the cord C exits the slot 108 to beis positioned in the passage 106 to help retain the cord C in thepassage 106. Accordingly, the cord C can be pushed into the connector102 to quickly and easily attach the assembly 100 and the cord C. Thecord C further can be engaged or pulled by a user and moved through theslot 108 to move apart the side portions 110 and 112 to facilitate quickand easy removal or release of the cord C and the assembly 100.

When it is desired to secure the cord C in a selected compactconfiguration, the cord C can be at least partially or substantiallyentirely wrapped, coiled, and/or folded to form a bundle B of the cord C(FIG. 6 ), and the elastic portion 10 can be stretched and/or loopedaround the bundle B, e.g., in the selected compact configuration of thecord C (FIG. 6 ). Thereafter, as indicated in FIG. 6 , a portion of theelastic portion 10 can be inserted through the gap 124 of the prongs 122such that a selected one of the bulbous portions 114 is positionedproximate the prongs 122 and the recessed portion 120 (e.g., adjacentthe concave portion of the connector body 104 defining the recessedportion). When the elastic portion 10 is released, the tension in theelongated elastic portion 10 compresses or secures the cord in itsselected compact configuration and further engages or presses theselected bulbous portion 114 against the recessed portion 120 of theconnector 102, such that the elastic portion 10 is securely engaged,compressed, and/or tightly wrapped about the cord C to secure it in theselected compact configuration. That is, in an embodiment, the tensionon the elastic portion 10 compresses and secures the cord in itsselected compact configuration and further presses the selected bulbousportion 114 of the second attachment apparatus 14 against the connector102 of the first attachment apparatus 12 to facilitate a substantiallysecure connection therebetween. In this regard, a first portion of thecord C is engaged with/attached to the first attachment apparatus 12 anda second portion of the cord C is engaged with/attached to the secondattachment apparatus 14.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bulbous portion 114 can be selected sothat the elastic portion 10 can be stretched when the elastic portion iswrapped over the bundle of the cord C and the selected bulbous portion114 is engaged with the recessed portion 120 and the resulting tensionin the elastic portion 10 can help retain the selected bulbous portion114 against the surface of the recessed portion 120. For example, for alarger cord C and cord bundle B, the selected bulbous portion 114 can becloser to the end 10B of the elastic portion 10, and for a smallerbundle B, one can select a bulbous portion 114 that is closer to the end10A of the elastic portion 10.

While the attachment apparatus 14 includes six (6) bulbous portions 114as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 , any suitable number of bulbous portions114 could be included (e.g., 1 or more bulbous portions). For example,an alternative assembly 100′ is shown in FIG. 7 . In the illustratedembodiment, the alternative assembly 100′ can have an attachmentapparatus 14′ with four (4) bulbous portions 114.

FIG. 8 shows an assembly 200 for securing one or more cords C inselected compact configurations according to another embodiment, whereinthe first attachment apparatus 12 includes a connector 202 at orsubstantially adjacent the first end 10A of the elastic portion 10. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the connector 202 includes a connector body204 having a hook shape 222 that is curved to define the recessedportion 220 (e.g., a concave curved portion) configured to receive aportion of the elastic portion 10. In one embodiment, a distal end 223of the hook shape 222 is spaced apart from a remainder of the connectorbody 204 by a distance, which can be sized so that the elastic portion10 can slide or snap between the distal end 223 and the remainder of theconnector body 204 into a receiving space 225 at least partially definedby the recessed portion 220 and/or the hook shape 222. In theillustrated embodiment, the width of the space 225 under the recessedportion 220 can be smaller than the size of the bulbous portions 114 sothat the bulbous portions 114 cannot be easily pulled through the space225 under the recessed portion 220 when the elastic portion 10 isengaged under the recessed portion 220.

As shown in the schematic cross-section of FIG. 9 , the connector body204 can include an outer portion 230, which can be continuous with theelastic portion 10, and an inner portion 232, which can be a metal stripthat is bent into the shape of the connector body 204. In oneembodiment, the outer portion 230 can be over-molded on the innerportion 232. The connector body 204 could be otherwise configuredwithout departing from the disclosure. For example, the inner portion232 could include hard rubber, hard plastic, metallic materials, wood,etc., or other suitable hard plastic, composite, synthetic, etc.materials or combinations thereof.

In use, an end or another portion of the cord C can be engaged with thepassage 106, the remainder of the cord C can be formed into a bundle B,and the elastic portion 10 can be at least partially wrapped around thebundle B similarly to the process described above with respect to theassembly 100 shown in FIGS. 1-6 . The attachment apparatus 14′ can beengaged with the hook shape 222 by pulling (e.g., stretching) theelastic portion 10 around the bundle B of the cord C and inserting aportion of the elastic portion 10 past the distal end 223 of the hookshape 222 and into the space 225. In one embodiment, the tension in theelastic portion 10 can pull an adjacent one of the bulbous portions 114against a side of the hook shape 222 so that the attachment apparatus14′ is retained in engagement with the hook shape 222 and the elasticportion 10 retains the cord bundle B in engagement with the assembly200. In this regard, a first portion of the cord C is engagedwith/attached to the first attachment apparatus 12 and a second portionof the cord C is engaged with/attached to the second attachmentapparatus 14.

The foregoing description generally illustrates and describes variousembodiments of the present invention. It will, however, be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade to the above-discussed construction of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdisclosed herein, and that it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as being illustrative, and not to be taken in a limitingsense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure shall beconstrued to cover various modifications, combinations, additions,alterations, etc., above and to the above-described embodiments, whichshall be considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Ittherefore will be understood by those skilled in the art that while thepresent invention has been described above with reference to preferredembodiments, numerous variations, modifications, and additions can bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as set forth in the following claims. Accordingly, variousfeatures and characteristics of the present invention as discussedherein may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustratedand non-illustrated embodiments of the invention, and numerousvariations, modifications, and additions further can be made theretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asset forth in the appended claims.

1. An assembly for securing a cord in a selected compact configuration,comprising: a first attachment apparatus comprising a connector andconfigured to connect to the cord; an elongate body extending from thefirst attachment apparatus, the elongate body being configured to bepositioned to extend at least partially around the cord to at leastpartially secure the cord in the selected compact configuration; and asecond attachment apparatus positioned along at least a portion of theelongate body, the second attachment apparatus being configured toconnect to the first attachment apparatus to at least partially securethe elongate body at least partially about the cord in the selectedcompact configuration, the elongate body comprises a first material, andthe first attachment apparatus comprises a second material, the secondmaterial is more rigid relative to the first material.
 2. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein the first material is selected from the groupconsisting of polyurethane, polybutadiene, neoprene, and silicone. 3.The assembly of claim 2, wherein the second material is selected fromthe group consisting of hard rubber, hard plastic, metallic materials,and wood.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector has a firstportion extending from the elongate body and a second portion at leastpartially received in the first portion, the first portion comprisingthe first material and the second portion comprising the secondmaterial.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first portion of theconnector is integrally-formed with the elongate body.
 6. The assemblyof claim 4, wherein the second portion is comprised of the secondmaterial and formed in the shape of a connector body, the second portionis at least partially over-molded with the first material.
 7. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the connector of the first attachmentapparatus comprises a connector body at least partially defining apassage and a slot in communication with the passage, the passage isconfigured for receiving a portion of the cord, and the slot isconfigured for facilitating pressing the portion of the cord into thepassage.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector of the firstattachment apparatus comprises a connector body at least partiallydefining a recessed portion configured for receiving at least a portionof at least one of the second attachment apparatus and the elongate bodyfor connecting the elongate body to the first attachment apparatus. 9.The assembly of claim 8, wherein the connector body of the firstattachment apparatus further defines two prongs at least partiallydefining a gap therebetween, the second attachment apparatus comprises abulbous portion configured for being at least partially received alongthe recessed portion, and the two prongs and the gap are configured forreceiving a portion of the elongate body proximate the bulbous portion.10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the second attachment apparatuscomprises a bulbous portion extending on the elongate body, at least aportion of the connector body comprises a hook shape at least partiallydefining a receiving space, the recessed portion extends along at leasta portion of the receiving space, and the receiving space is configuredto receive a portion of the elongate body extending from the bulbousportion so that the bulbous portion engages the connector body.
 11. Amethod comprising: obtaining an assembly comprising a first attachmentapparatus comprising a connector, an elastic portion extending from thefirst attachment apparatus, and a second attachment apparatus extendingalong at least a portion of the elastic portion, the elastic portioncomprises a first material and the first attachment apparatus comprisesa second material, the second material is more rigid relative to thefirst material; connecting the first attachment apparatus to a portionof a cord; forming at least a portion of the cord into a bundle;wrapping at least a portion of the elastic portion at least partiallyaround the bundle; and connecting at least a portion of the secondattachment apparatus to the first attachment apparatus to at leastpartially secure the bundle to the assembly.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting ofpolyurethane, polybutadiene, neoprene, and silicone.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the second material is selected from the groupconsisting of hard rubber, hard plastic, metallic materials, and wood.14. The method of claim 11, the connector has a first portion extendingfrom the elongate body and a second portion at least partially receivedin the first portion, the first portion comprising the first materialand the second portion comprising the second material.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the second portion is comprised of the second materialand formed in the shape of a connector body, the second portion is atleast partially over-molded with the first material.
 16. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the connector of the first attachment apparatuscomprises a connector body at least partially defining a passage and aslot in communication with the passage, the connecting the firstattachment apparatus to the portion of the cord comprising pressing theportion of the cord through the slot into the passage so that theportion of the cord is at least partially received in the passage. 17.The method of claim 11, wherein the connector of the first attachmentapparatus comprises a connector body at least partially defining arecessed portion, and the connecting at least a portion of the secondattachment apparatus to the first attachment apparatus comprisespositioning at least a portion of at least one of the second attachmentapparatus and the elongate body to be received along the recessedportion.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connector body of thefirst attachment apparatus further defines two prongs at least partiallydefining a gap therebetween, the second attachment apparatus comprises abulbous portion, and the connecting at least a portion of the secondattachment apparatus to the first attachment apparatus comprisespositioning a portion of the elongate body proximate the bulbous portionto be received in the gap between the two prongs and positioning thebulbous portion to be at least partially received along the recessedportion.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second attachmentapparatus comprises a bulbous portion extending on the elongate body, atleast a portion of the connector body comprises a hook shape at leastpartially defining a receiving space, the recessed portion extends alongat least a portion of the receiving space, and the connecting at least aportion of the second attachment apparatus to the first attachmentapparatus comprises positioning a portion of the elongate body extendingfrom the bulbous portion to be at least partially received in thereceiving space so that the bulbous portion engages the connector body.